Plant care
Cyclamentemperature & humidity
Cyclamen persicum
More about cyclamen
Ideal temperature for cyclamen
Cyclamen is comfortable in any room a person is comfortable in, roughly 13-18C day, 10-13C night (55-65F day, 50-55F night). The mistakes are micro-climates: a north-facing window on a frosty night, a south-facing windowsill in a summer heatwave, the standing draught between an opened kitchen door and the radiator behind it. Read the room around the plant, not the thermostat. Below roughly 13°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Cyclamen is comparatively hardy (USDA Grown as a houseplant; hardy outdoors only in USDA zones 9-11 (Cyclamen persicum is frost-tender)., RHS undefined). Within that range it tolerates a cold dormant spell outdoors; outside it, grow it in a container you can move under cover or overwinter in a cool but frost-free spot. Hardiness assumes an established plant in well-drained soil — a wet, cold root zone kills far more plants than cold air alone.
Humidity for cyclamen
Cyclamen sits happiest at around Moderate to high, around 50%+ relative humidity. Cyclamen prefer humidity above about 50%. Stand the pot on a tray of moist pebbles or run a humidifier nearby - this also helps deter cyclamen and spider mites, which thrive in dry air. Avoid misting the crown and foliage directly, which encourages gray mould. The usual low-humidity tell is crisp brown leaf tips and edges while the soil moisture is fine — a sign the air, not the watering, is the problem. If you need to raise it, the reliable methods are grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (the pot above the waterline, never in it), or running a small humidifier in winter when indoor heating dries the air most. Misting is the least effective — it raises humidity for minutes, not hours.
Cyclamen temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for cyclamen?
Cyclamen grows best between 13-18C day, 10-13C night (55-65F day, 50-55F night). Keep it out of cold draughts, off freezing windowsills in winter, and away from the hot dry air directly above radiators — the extremes matter far more than the average room temperature.
How cold can cyclamen tolerate?
Cyclamen starts to suffer below roughly 13°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA Grown as a houseplant; hardy outdoors only in USDA zones 9-11 (Cyclamen persicum is frost-tender)., but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does cyclamen need?
Cyclamen prefers about Moderate to high, around 50%+ relative humidity. Cyclamen prefer humidity above about 50%. Stand the pot on a tray of moist pebbles or run a humidifier nearby - this also helps deter cyclamen and spider mites, which thrive in dry air. Avoid misting the crown and foliage directly, which encourages gray mould.
How do I raise humidity for cyclamen?
Group it with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (kept above the waterline), or run a small humidifier in winter. Misting only helps for a few minutes, so it is the weakest option for a plant that genuinely needs more humidity.
Can cyclamen live outside?
Cyclamen is rated for USDA zone Grown as a houseplant; hardy outdoors only in USDA zones 9-11 (Cyclamen persicum is frost-tender).. Within that range it can stay outdoors; outside it, grow it in a moveable container and protect the roots from a wet, cold winter.
More cyclamen care
In the UK? Keeping cyclamen warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full cyclamen care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.